Electronic translating device



April 30, 1946. H. zlEBoLz ELECTRONIC TRANSLATING DEVICE Filed July 24,1942 ifa,

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yPatented Apr. 30, 1946 '2,399,420' ELECTRNIC 'EBANSLATING DEVGElHerbert Zlebolz, Chicago, Ill., assigner, by mesne assignments, toElectronbeam, Ltd., Chicago, Ill., a partnership ot illinoisApplicationiluly 2d, i942, Serial No. d52,222

(ill. 315-32) 12 Claims.

This invention relates to electronic translating devices for relaying,amplifying, converting, transforming or otherwise translating electricsignals, or signals of any nature which may be converted by known meansinto electric signals. 'I'he invention is useful in translating .sils orvariations representing physical, other conditions. The invention isalso useful ior converting mechanical movements or displacements as ofan object into corresponding electric variations which may be employedto control'- other devices or to operating indicating or recordingdevices for indicating or recording the mechanical movements ordisplacements.

Une object of the invention is to devise a translating device or relayin which variations in the output energy are directly proportional tothe variationsin the input signal.

A further object is to devise a highly sensitive translating deviceembodied within an evacuatedcontainer forming the envelope of anelectronic tube. a

'The invention disclosed herein is useful generally for the samepurposes as the electronic relay disclosed in my earlier filedapplication" Ser.l No. 417,871, led November 4, 1941. My earliertranslating device involves a cathode ray tube in which the cathode raybeam is deflected by an input deilecting means energlzed'or operfatedfrom a suitable input signal or vz-iriationl electrodes is employed tovary the electron How in one or more electron paths. The input signal orvariation is utilized to produce a movement of atleast one movableelectrode and thereby produce a change in current iiowing between atleast two electrodes of the tube, and this variation in current isemployed to establish an opposing force acting upon the movableelectrode tending to establish equilibrium between the two opposingforces.

A special feature of the invention is that the arrangements for mountingthe movable electrodes are arranged wholly within the envelope of thetube and permit free movement of the chemical or rox electrodes with p.minimum amount of friction or restraining force.

.il number of emiments of my invention are illustrated in theaccompanying drawing, in which Fig. l is a diagrammatic representationoione construction of translating device in which two movable anodes ofthe electronic tube are mounted. on a pivot lever or beam whollyenclosed in the tube envelope; and magnetic inductive means are employedfor applying a defiecting force to the lever from the input source andalso an opposing force from the output circuit;

Fig. 2 shows an arrangement employing two stationary cathodes and onemovable anode mounted on the movable lever and in which electrostaticmeans is employed to apply both the input orce and the counterbalancingforce to the lever;

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic representation of a third modification in whichthe electronic tube embodies a stationary cathode and two stationaryanodes with two movable grids interposed inthe two electronic paths, thetwo grids being mounted upon the pivoted lever of a modiiied Kelvinbalance; and

Fig. i is a fragmentary view showing a modilisation of the translatingdevice in which the spect to the cathode by means of a suitable sourcerepresented by theV battery it, the negative terminal of the sourcebeing connected to the cathode through the adjustable connection on thepotentiometer Mia connected across the source i2. Suitable couplingresistances itc and i3d are inserted in the circuits of ancdes ita andlib, respectively. As shown in the drawing, anodes lia. and ith aremounted for relative movement with respect to the cathode i i so that asone anode moves closer to the cathode, the other moves away from thecathode. One suitable mounting arrangement involves` the lever I5 whichis pivoted near its center to a suitable support Illa, the two anodesI3a and i317 being supported on the lever in insulated relation and inproper positionuwith respect to the cathode I I. The electric signals orvariations to be translated are applied to the terminals I8 and serve toenergize the magnetic coil Ita surrounding an extension IIib formed inone side of the tube III adjacent one end of the lever I5. The coil I6aacts inductively on a magnetic core member IBb carried by the lever I5and positioned to extend into the extension Ib. A second inductive coilI1 is positioned on a second extension IIlc formed in the wall of thetube I0 opposite extension I 0b, and this coll acts upon a secondinductive core I1a carried by the lever I5 and extending into theextension IIIc.

Potential variations developed between anodes I3a and I3b are applied tothe output circuit terminals I8 either directly or through a suitableampliiier I9. Coil I 1 is energized from the output circuit and exerts aforce on lever I in opposition to the force exerted on the lever by coilIBa. A suitable meter 2li indicates the value of current supplied to thecoil I1.

The operation of Fig. 1 is as follows: It will be assumed that with nosignal applied .to the coil I6a, lever I5 is in its neutral position andequal currents ilow in the two anode circuits. Under this condition, nopotential difference is developed between the two anodes, and no voltageis applied to the output circuit or to the coil I1. As soon as the coilISa is energized by a signal, a force is applied to the lever I5 tendingto rotate it in a clockwise direction, thus tending to increase thecurrent in the circuit of anode I3b and decreasing the current in .thecircuit of anode I3a. The resulting potential difference between the twoanodes impresses a corresponding potential dlfference on the outputcircuit and causes a current to iiow in coil I1 which opposes the forceexerted on the lever I5 by the input coil ISa. The lever I5 will assumea. position where the two forces are in equilibrium, that is. where theforce of coil I1 tending to rotate the lever anticlockwise is equal tothe force of the coil I6a tending to rotate the lever clockwise. Theamount of deflection of the lever I5 from its normal position isdependent upon the value of 'the input signal, and the amount of currentsupplied to coil I1 necessary to counterbalance the input force willnecessarily vary in accordance with variations in the input signal.Accordingly, the indications on the meter 20 will vary in directproportion to the strength of the input signal and meter 28 may becalibrated in units appropriate I3 is maintained at a positive potentialwith respect to the cathodes by the source I4, two coupling resistancesI3c and i3d being interposed in the two electron current circuits. Theoutput circuit I8 is energized in accordance with potential variationsdeveloped between the two cathodes.

Fig. 2 also shows a variation in the manner of applying the deectingforce to the lever I5, but it will be understood that the arrangementshown in Fig. 1 may be used if desired. In Fig. 2, signals from theinput circuit I6 are applied to conducting plates 2Ia and 2lb forming acondenser arrangement, one plate being stationary, while the other iscarried by the lever I5. The electrostatic action between the two plateswill exert a deilecting force on the lever I5 which will vary inaccordance with the value of the input signal. The counter-balancingforce may also be applied to the lever I5 from the output circuit byapplying the output potential between plates 22a and 22h, one of whichis stationary and the other being carried by the lever I5. In this case,a voltmeter 20a is connected to indicate the value of the output voltagewhich also serves to indicate the value of the input signal. It isbelieved that the operation of Fig. 2 will be clear in view of theforegoing description of the operation of Fig. l.

In Fig. 3 the electron tube construction involves a single stationarycathode II and two stationary anodes I3a and I3b with two movableinterposed grids 23a and 23D. The grid elements are carried by the rightend of-pivoted lever I5 and are suitably insulated from this lever. Thecathode heating circuit and the anode supply circuits for Fig. 3 are thesame as in Fig. l. The two grid elements are connected together and maybe maintained at a desired potential, preferably negative, with respectto the cathode II by means of a biasing battery 24. The output circuitconnections for Fig. 3 are the same as in Fig. 1.

The arrangement for applying the input deecting force and thecounterbalancing force to f the lever I5 involves a modified Kelvinbalance arrangement in Awhich Ithe input circuit I6 supplies current totwo stationary coils I6a and Ia' arranged on opposite sides of a movablecoil IIc carried by the lever I5. The interaction of these three coilsexerts a force on lever I5 tending to to the input signal. The circuitas shown is usefulv for measuring or indicating the input signals. Thecircuit is also useful for controlling purposes by connecting thecontrol apparatus to the output terminals I8, as will be understood by'those skilled in the art.

The inductive cores IIib and I1a may be formed of soft iron or ofpermanent magnets. Also, the defiecting force may be applied to thelever by the interaction of two or more coils, one of which is carriedby the lever, as is shown in Fig. 3. It is not essential that twomovable anodes be employed; only one may be'used since the outputcircuit could be energized in accordance with potential variationsdeveloped across either coupling resistance I3c or lid. v

In Fig. 2 elements which have the same function as correspondingelements in Fig. 1 are represented by corresponding reference numerals.In this arrangement, only one anode I3 is carried by the lever I5 and ismounted for movement between two spaced cathodes IIa and I Ib energizedrespectively by sources I2a and I2b. The anode unbalance the level in awell known manner. The three coils are connected in series, but it willbe understood that the stationary coils may be separately excited andthe movable coil may be connected to the input circuit, or vice versa.The counterbalancing force is applied to the lever I5 by means of twostationary coils I1 and I1b acting on a movable coil I1c carried bylever I5, the three coils being connected in series and supplied withcurrent from the output circuit I8 through a current meter 20. The samevariations in connections of these three coils is possible as in thecase of the input coils. Also, any of the stationary coils may belocated outside of the tube envelope if desired.

The operation of Fig. 3 is believed to be clear in view of the foregoingdescription of the operation of Fig. 1. In this arrangement, however,the two electron paths are not varied in length, but the amount ofelectron iiow in the two paths is varied in opposite directions bymovement of the two grids 23a and 23h with respect to the cathode I'I.

Fig, 4 shows a further variation of the translating device in which theinput signal or variation is in the form oi movement of an element yormember. In this arrangement, the movement acca-12o A to be indicated,measured, repeated or translated.

is applied to a movable rod I6' which carries a magnetic yoke |16",preferably in the form of a permanent horseshoe type of magnet. Themagnet IB" has its opposinng arms positioned n opposite sides ofextension lb. The two arms have inwardly projecting pole pieces whichact inductively on magnetic bar lsb carried by the rent ilow betweensaid electrodes, a movable lever mounted entirely within the envelopeand carrying one f said electrodes for movement relative to another ofsaid electrodes to vary the electrons ilowing in an electron pathbetween two of said electrodes included in said circuit, an inductiveelement carried by said lever, input means for acting inductively onsaid inductive element to end of lever l5. The arrangement is otherwiselike the arrangement shown in Fig. 1, although many variations arepossible.

It Will be understood that the movement t0 be measured or indicated isapplied to the rod I6@ which imparts corresponding movement to themagnet I6" which in turn imparts corresponding movement to the magnetic-bar lib and thus to the lever l5. The arrangement at the other end ofthe lever I may be in accordance with any of the arrangements shownabove, and the operation will be clear to those skilled in the art.

In the appended claims the term inductive means is used in a broad senseto apply to-the capacity inductive means shown in Fig. 2 as well as tothe magnetic inductive means shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 4. It is obviousthat various combinations of capacity and magnetic'inductive means maybe used. For example, the input inductive means may be of the capacitytype while the counterbalancing inductive means may be of the magnetictype, or vice versa.

What is claimed is:

1. An electronic translating device, comprising an electronic tubehaving an enclosing envelope, two lectrodes mounted within saidenvelope," one of which emits electrons, a ,circuit including a sourceof current for 4establishing current flow between said electrodes, amovable member wholly within said envelope mounting one of saidelectrodes for movement towards and away from the other electrode tovary the electrons flowing in the electron path between said twoelectrodes and thereby varying the current in said circuit, input meanscoupled to said movable member for effecting movement of sgid movableYmember, and means in said circuit and controlled by the current iiowingtherein for applying a variable force to said movable member inopposition to the force applied by said input means. 1

2. A translating device according to claim 1, wherein said movablemember is a balanced lever pivotally supported in said tube envelope.

3. A translating device according to claim 1, wherein the input meansfor effecting movement apply a force to and cause movement of saidlever, and means in the circuit of said source responsive to variationsin the ow of current in said circuit for exerting an opposing force onsaid lever to establish equilibrium between said forces.

6. 'A translating device according to claim 5, whereinthe movable leveris pivotally mounted at a point intermediate the ends thereof within theenvelope, said movable electrode and said inductive element beingmounted upon said lever on opposite sides of the pivotal point thereof.

'1. An electronic translating device, comprising an electronic tubehaving an elongated enclosing envelope, a plurality of electrodesmounted in one end of said envelope, one of said electrodes being anelectron emitting element, a movable lever mounted entirely within theenvelope and carrying two of said electrodes for movement re1- ative tosaid electron emitting element, circuit connections between saidelectron emitting element and said two electrodes and including a sourceof current for establishing current flow between said electron emittingelement and said two electrodes carried by said lever, an inductiveelement carried by said lever, input means coupled inductively to saidinductive element for applying a force to and cause movement of saidlever, counterbalancing means carried by saidA lever for exerting anopposing force on said lever, and circuit connections from saidelectrodes carried by said lever to said counterbalancing means forenergizing said counterbalancing means in accordance with the differenceof potential between said two electrodes.

8. A translating device according to claim 5, wherein the lever carriesa single anode movable between twospaced electron emitting elements.

9. 'A translating device according to claim 5, wherein said electronemitting element is stationary, and said plurality of electrodesincludes a pair of grid electrodes carried by said lever and mounted formovement on opposite sides of said electron element, and including apair of stationary anodes mounted on opposite sides of said electronemitting element and coof the movable member comprises an input in-,operating therewith.

ductive means coupled with the movable mem-- ber;

5. An electronic translating device, -comprising .an electronic tubehaving an elongated enclosing envelope, a plurality of electrodesmounted in one end of said envelope, one of said electrodes being anelectron emitting element, a circuit including a source of current forestablishing cur- 4. A translating device according to claim 1,l

10. A translating device according to claim 5, wherein said inductiveelement on the lever extends into an extension on the envelope andincluding magnetic field producing means embracing said extension foriniluencing said inductive element.

11. A translating device according to claim 5, wherein the inductiveelement carried by the lever comprises a conducting plate forming oneelement of an electric condenser and is inuenced by another plateconstituting the other element of the condenser.

12. A translating device according to claim 5, wherein the inductiveelement carried by the l7o lever is in the form of one coil of a Kelvinbalance.

HERBERT zrEBoLz.

